Max eighth in sprintrace Qatar: 'Practically a rally car'

Published on 30 November 2024 by Florence Cobben

Max Verstappen came eighth in the Qatar Grand Prix sprint race. After a tense first lap where Max dropped three places, he managed to gain one via an overtake on Pierre Gasly. Oscar Piastri won the sprintrace, after receiving the win from McLaren-teammate Lando Norris, who let him pass just before the finish line.

“I just had no grip. The balance was a disaster, and on cold tyres this is exacerbated. It was practically a rally car! I should have joined my father in Spa.” Max elaborates: “We can change some things, but not the root of the problem. We’re going to adjust some things, but I don’t expect any miracles.”

About the race itself, Max reflects: “I honestly don’t think (we had the pace to keep up with the Ferraris). I mean, the start itself was nothing special. Lewis had a really good one. Then I just tried to stay out of trouble, but honestly I was just sliding everywhere — having a lot of weird moments. And that’s been happening the whole weekend already. Just no balance on entry, no balance in the corner. Everything is the extreme version of itself. Throughout the race that was also my problem, I couldn’t even catch Nico (Hulkenberg), really.”

The start of the sprintrace was difficult for Max. In the first corner the four-time worldchampion lost a position to Lewis Hamilton, and then soon after lost two more positions to Nico Hulkenberg and Gasly. Via the team radio Max expresses his frustration with the car: “Wow. Oversteer is an understatement.” At the end of the first lap Max is in ninth place. At the head of the race, both McLarens are leading, with Norris maintaining his position in first, and Piastri in second after overtaking George Russell.

In the following laps, George Russell takes the attack to Piastri. The Australian is being helped by his teammate, Norris, who stays within DRS range of Piastri so the junior McLaren driver can stay ahead of Russell’s Mercedes. In lap eight, Max makes an overtake move on Gasly, promoting himself to eighth place.

Charles Leclerc, who initially lost a position to Hamilton, gains on the Brit at the start of lap thirteen. Leclerc and Hamilton go toe-to-toe, driving through the corners side-by-side, with the Monagasque emerging victorious in P5. Max is still firmly parked behind Hulkenberg. With just three laps to go, he has a second-and-a-half distance to seventh place.

The fight between Piastri and Russell for second place goes down to the wire. Russell attempts an overtake multiple times, but doesn’t maneuver past Piastri’s aggressive defense tactics. At the start of the last lap, Russell is too far from his competitor to still get second, and the McLarens claim a one-two on the Losail International Circuit. At the last moment, Norris allows his teammate to pass him by and claim the victory, as thanks for Piastri doing the same for him in Brazil. This marks Piastri’s first sprintrace of 2024. Max finishes the sprintrace in eighth.

Contest Qatar GP: win a by Max Verstappen signed Red Bull Racing cap!

Results sprint race Qatar: